Morris tribune., 1887-01-05

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Every few wears, since the first settle
ment Of the country. attempts have
been made by enthusiasts to induce
people TO engage in the, production OF
silk. The pleasures and profits of silk
production have been presented in .
manner calculated to gain the attention
of men, women, and children. Thous.
ands Of people III all parts of the coun
try have been induced to plant null
berry trees, to purchase the eggs OF
slk-worms, and to try to produce
cocoons for the market. That several
persons have made considerable money
by the sale of mulberry trees, silk
worm eggs, fixtures for houses in
which the worms are kept, and books
devoted to silk culture is certain. The
most diligent seeker after information,
however, could not probably find in
the entire country one person who has
ever made any money in producing
six to be disposed of in the market.
The truth is that the production of
raw silk is not Il very profitable industry
in any country. and it is worthy q
attention only IN those parts of the
world where the Climate is particularly
favorable and wages are very slow.
That 1t is profitable to raise goats in
many parts of the world is certain. In
some countries their milk is PREFER ed
to that given by cows, and it is exte H.
siveIy used for making certain kinds o
cheese. Their skins are always in de.
H.
parchment The flesh of young goats
is regarded as luxury in many coun-
tries. The hair of certain kinds o.
goats IS valuable for making cloth and
ornaments. AS there is profit in raising
goats in various foreign countries where
the climate. condition OF the land. and
productions are favorable to them an0
equally unfavorable to other an mails,
several persons have dc :lared that they
would be profitable here. They have
imported var.ct es Of goats that produce
hair that can bc made into cloth, and
have written many articles for the pur-
pose of inducing farmers to engage in
raising the animals that are SO useful
and Valtlable in most oriental countries.
Some of these persons have probably
made money in sell ng breeding stock:
1t would be very difficult, however, to
find person who has derived any profit
from raising goats. 1t appears TO be
true that there is no demand for their
milk or flesh, and that the price of theiI
fleece is very uncertain and fluctuatlng.
Only few invalids can be induced tC
Use goats milk, and only persons who
have inherited Il liking for it will eat
the flesh of even young goats.
That many persons have derived
pleasure and profit from keeping fancy
tow Is is certain. They have accom-
pIlshed great good by introducing I'M
proved breeds of hens, ducks, and geese
into different parts of the country.
There is a profit in the business of
breeding fancy fowls if one has good
location and advertises judiciously.
Money can be made in raising hens
that sell at S. each and eggs that BRING
s. per dozen. Still, very few farmers
have made any money by keeping fancy
fowls. They are ordinarily obliged to
sell most of their eggs at prices paid
for those dropped by common fowls,
while the dressed birds bring no more
if sold by the pound than those of mon.
grel stock. The practice of selling
ducks, turkeys, and chickens by the
dozen prevails in many parts of the
country, and when this is the case there
is no inducement offered to farmers to
raise fowls of large size or of superior
quality. A large fowl consumes more
food than a small one, and if it brings
no more money than one of small size
it is less profitable for the producer.
SO long as small eggs bring as much as
large ones, the farmer derives no adj
vantage from producing those of super
ior size. Till eggs are sold by the
pound. as they are IN California or are
sorted and sold according to their size,
as they are in France, there will be no
inducement for farmers to produce them
of very large size.
The profits of raising fast horses are
often presented to the public in terms
so glowing that they are tempted to en-
gage in the business. They read of the
sale of fast horse for a sum greater
than the value of their farms. They
know that such an animal consumes no
more food than a common plug that
will not bring 800 in any market.
They are accordingly induced to have
their mares served by stallion whose
ancestors have made a record on a
race-track, They may succeed in rails
ing some colts, but the prospect is that
they will not succeed in getting high
prices for them. The horses that sell
for 81. 900 or over in any country are
very few in number. When such a sum
is real zed for fast horse. but a very
small proportion of it ordinarily goes
into the pockets of the man who raised
it. The persons who have the means
and disposition to purchase fast horses
are few. and several middlemen stand
between them and the raisers of the an
imals. 1t is as hard to find purchaser
for very fast horse as for very costly
diamond. The raising and training OF
fast horses require knowledge and skill
that few farmers possess. When the
animals are raised and trained, speciaI
abil ty is required to dispose of them al
high prices.